Mines (5-1-0, 2-0-0) at CSU-Pueblo (3-2-1, 0-1-1) – Friday, 4:30 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
Mines (5-1-0, 2-0-0) at Adams State (0-5-1, 0-1-1) – Sunday, 12 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
                                    
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
After back-to-back weekends on the road, the Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team has the end of its six-game road swing in sight. This weekend, the Orediggers wrap up their time away from Stermole Stadium at CSU-Pueblo Friday and Adams State Sunday. A pair of wins would extend Mines' win streak to six matches and keep the Orediggers atop the RMAC standings.
 
GREAT FACES, GREAT PLACES
Last weekend, Mines visited the Mount Rushmore National Monument outside Rapid City, S.D. The Orediggers also faced South Dakota School of Mines and UCCS, winning both matches 3-0 and 4-1, respectively. John Haist finished the weekend with a team-best four goals over two matches. Goalkeeper Drew Johnson recorded one shutout with two wins and one assist. Sunday's goal against at UCCS is the first surrendered by Mines since Sept. 7.
 
WEATHER REPORT
Friday's forecast predicts nearly perfect conditions for Mines' match at CSU-Pueblo. Temperatures should be in the mid 70's at kickoff with 30-perecent humidity and no chance for precipitation. Windy may play a factor with projected gusts up to 14 miles per hour. Sunday looks to be another gorgeous day with a game-time temp of 65 degrees. Low humidity, no precipitation and a light breeze bode well for the Orediggers.
 
SCOUTING CSU-PUEBLO
With an overall record of 3-2-1 and an RMAC mark of 0-1-1, the ThunderWolves enter Friday's match against Mines seeking their first RMAC win of the season. Most recently, CSUP dropped a 6-2 decision to #19 Colorado Mesa in the ThunderWolves RMAC home opener. All three of Pueblo's wins have come against teams from the Heartland Conference – Newman, Dallas Baptist and UT-Permian Basin. Seven different players have scored single goals for CSU-Pueblo. Cesar Zamudio leads the team with a goal and an assist. On defense, three different goalkeepers have stood in net with Tyler Harvey on top at 3-1-0 and 19 saves.
 
ART & LORRAINE SOCCER/LACROSSE STADIUM
As apparent by its name, the CSU-Pueblo Art & Lorraine Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium serves as the home field for the ThunderWolves. Ground was broken on the enhanced facility in 2015 and opened in 2016. It seats 550 in a grandstand with five locker rooms and synthetic turf in addition to numerous other amenities. In total, the project cost $3 million.
 
WHAT'S A THUNDERWOLF?
Colorado State University-Pueblo was previously known as the University of Southern Colorado with Indians as the nickname of its athletics teams. However according to CSU-Pueblo's athletics website, "The University of Southern Colorado (now Colorado State University-Pueblo) adopted the "ThunderWolf" as its mascot prior to the 1995-96 academic school year. The ThunderWolf came to life as USC looked to modernize its image following over 60 years of being known as the "Indians." The term Thunder Wolf (Thunderwolf/Thunderwolves) is part of a number of pop-culture references, but is not actually part of the existing animal kingdom. In the context of CSUP, the thunderwolf is a mythical creature intertwined in legend with colors reflecting Colorado's diverse geography.
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
Adams State goes into the upcoming weekend still seeking its first win of the season, RMAC or otherwise. The Grizzlies are 0-5-1 overall and 0-1-1 in league play as they face South Dakota Mines Friday before hosting the Orediggers Sunday. ASU's lone draw came against CSU-Pueblo in Alamosa last weekend. Andree Salazar leads ASU's offense with two goals on three shots this season. In goal, Shawn Mckeeken is responsible for three of the Grizzlies' losses while Jacob Faircloth is 0-2-1. In total, Adams State has surrendered 17 goals and scored just seven.
 
ASU SOCCER FIELD
The Grizzlies' home field, aptly named for its institution and function, features field turf and one section of bleacher seating. While the facility has no lights for play at night, it does feature plenty of open sky and a view of the Rocky Mountains.
 
GRRRRRRRIZZLIES
Adams State Athletics currently carries the nickname Grizzlies which refers to a large population of brown bear in North America. Scientists prefer the term North American brown bear over grizzly. The term is originally tied to explorers Lewis and Clark who first described the creature as grisly which transformed to grizzly in reference to the mammal's golden and grey tips of hair. ASU was previously known as the Indians.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Orediggers are 34-9-4 in the all-time series against CSU-Pueblo and 14-1-0 versus Adams State. Mines has defeated the ThunderWolves in 11 straight matches and hasn't lost to its southern foe in over a decade. In 15 meetings with ASU, the Orediggers have shut the Grizzlies out seven times and outscored ASU 61-8. The most lopsided victory was the program's first meeting – a 10-0 decision back in 2010. Mines has not lost to Adams State since 2013.
 
TWO-FOR-ONE
While many Oredigger fans might not be able to make it back to Golden for matches, Friday night presents the perfect opportunity to catch two Mines programs in one place. #7-ranked Colorado School of Mines women's soccer also faces the ThunderWolves Friday night in Pueblo at 7 p.m. The Oredigger women are 5-1-1 on the year and sit atop the RMAC standings.
 
LEADING THE RMAC
Colorado School of Mines (5-1, 2-0 RMAC) is tied for first in the RMAC standings with MSU Denver (3-3, 2-0 RMAC). However, the Orediggers also lead the conference in several statistical categories including goals for (19), scoring average (3.167) amd shots (114). Individually, John Haist leads the league in shots per game (4.67) and total shots (28) while sitting a tie for the lead in total points (14).
 
HAT TRICK OF HAT TRICKS
Senior forward John Haist recorded the third hat trick of his career last Sunday in a 4-1 win at UCCS. Haist scored in the seventh minute, 38th minute and 44th minute. Prior to Sunday his most recent hat trick was Sept. 8, 2017 against Cal State Monterey Bay. Haist continues to lead all active players in NCAA Division II with 48-career goals and 108-career points.

192 SQUARE FEET
The dimensions of a NCAA soccer goal (in feet) are 24.01575 x 8. That gives players 192 square feet to place a shot on goal. It just so happens, Mines is one of the best teams in NCAA Division II in getting its shots on frame. The Orediggers are currently #6 in the nation in shots on goal per game (9.67) and #11 in total shots on goal. Incidentally, the accuracy has paid off as Mines boasts the #11 scoring offense (3.17 goals per game) in all of NCAA Division II.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines returns to Stermole Stadium Sept. 28 and 30 for Homecoming 2018. The Orediggers host MSU Denver Friday and Colorado Christian Sunday.  Live stats and video of the matches will be available at www.MinesAthletics.com.